“But the fact we now play with three centre-backs helps us to be caught less on the break.”

Not since 2005 at Highbury have Arsenal won 13 home league games in a row. And Wenger knows his team will need all their defensive strength if they are going to see off United to equal that club record.

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He said: “United look to be a strong team and they have a lot of power up front with Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

“Mourinho has had time to put his print on the team and they are strong on the counter-attack.

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“They have just scored four goals at Watford, so our defensive performance will certainly be important. We must be well organised when we don’t have the ball against them — because if you look at their players they can be dangerous everywhere.”

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